§ Caroline FlintTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures his Department has taken to(a) inform patients who are victims of domestic violence of support services available and (b) provide guidelines to health employees, on dealing with patients who may be victims of domestic violence. [90746]
§ Mr. HuttonAs part of the Government'sBreak the Chain domestic violence awareness campaign launched earlier this year, the Department distributed leaflets and posters, giving advice to victims of domestic violence, to all general practitioners practices and directors of social services. Copies of the leaflet and poster are shortly to be sent to all NHS trust nurse directors in England to be placed in hospital patient information racks.
335WAdditionally, a training and resource pack Making an Impact commissioned by the Department was launched in June of last year. Focusing particularly on children and domestic violence in families, the pack aims to equip frontline staff with the skills to identify victims of abuse and to provide support.
The Department has also commissioned work to synthesise existing guidelines for health professionals to help them recognise and deal with victims of domestic abuse. These guidelines will be ready later this year.